Everything Changes

Olivia And Bedelia

Rose's Nails

1717 Main Street

Manhattan

12:45 PM

Rose's Nails was the salon that Olivia had been frequenting for decades because everything about it was authentic, peaceful, and very calming. It also had services that catered specifically to pregnant mothers, meaning that while there were the usual smells that came with a nail salon, the fumes weren't at all as heavy as they were in the usual run-of-the-mill nail salons. The place was perfect to bring Bedelia to.

The two friends elected to get their nails done before their meal because Rose herself called Olivia to tell her that a client had cancelled on her at the last minute, giving them the chance to go earlier. Rose offered them the spot and they happily accepted it.

They were at the drying stations now, and while Olivia opted for dark purple for her nails, Bedelia opted for a metallic rainbow theme for her mani/pedi because in keeping with her theme to turn over a new leaf, she was also trying new colors out, too.

She was admiring the colors when all of a sudden, she got the giggles and put a hand on her middle, rubbing the spot where she could feel her son kicking her.

"You silly thing." Bedelia cooed to her son. "I'm hanging out with Auntie Olivia right now, but I promise you that we'll get something to eat soon."

The baby settled almost immediately and Bedelia breathed a sigh of relief before sticking her hand back under the dryer.

"That's a good boy. Thank you."

"He's wide awake, huh?" Olivia guessed with an air of amusement, as she sat at her own drying station, wiggling her fingers and toes around so they didn't go too stiff as her nails dried.

"Yes." Bedelia groaned as she felt an elbow move across the bottom of her baby bump. "I haven't been kicked or even elbowed this much since I carried AJ, and she was a little hellion in there."

"What about Kim and Maggie?"

"Believe it or not, Kim was relatively normal. Blue was my late bloomer, but she was very polite and gentle about it."

"All of your pregnancies were different?"

"One hundred percent. I still need to collect furniture for the baby, but after that, he can come whenever he pleases because I'm officially at the eight-and-a-half-month mark."

Olivia was impressed, but asked a question she'd been dying to know ever since Amanda had first mentioned Bedelia's pregnancy.

"How did you get from Atlanta to New York City when you're fit to pop?"

"The train. Blue was thrilled to pieces the whole seventeen hours we were on it, but I won't lie: I liked it, too, and so did the baby because the constant motion seemed to keep him calm."

Olivia smiled at the thought. "What was it like, carrying everyone else?"

"AJ came a week early and I had to have her through a c-section because I couldn't keep her inside for any longer than she was already in there, Kim was right on time, and Blue was ten days late."

Olivia jumped slightly at the last part of the statement. "You're kidding."

"Not in the least. She gave me the longest labor, too; it was the longest fifteen hours of my life."

"Wow. You're a braver woman than I, Bedelia Rae."

Oh, if only you knew, the blond thought. "What's your full name?"